Adam M. Slater Partner E-Mail: aslater@mskf.net New Jersey Certified Civil Trial Attorney

Adam Slater is a highly regarded New

Jersey trial lawyer and a partner in Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, LLC, specializing in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation. Mr. Slater has established a reputation as a hard nosed, creative courtroom lawyer who welcomes challenges and opportunities to fight for the rights of his clients. Mr. Slater has won numerous substantial verdicts in court, and obtained many substantial settlements for his clients.
 

Mr. Slater has been designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a status earned by less than 2% of the attorneys in New Jersey. 

Adam M. Slater

Seriously Outstanding

only 5% selected each year

Mr. Slater is also recognized as a Super Lawyer, and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America. He also lectures on trial practice for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Slater’s educational background: Tulane University, B.A., 1989; Boston University, J.D., 1993, Paul J. Liacos Scholar, Edward F. Hennessey Scholar.

Mr. Slater is admitted in the following jurisdictions: New Jersey, District of New Jersey, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, New York, District of Columbia, Colorado.

Mr. Slater is a member of the following organizations: New Jersey State Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

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Authored Articles:

Changing Standards: Why Landlords May Not Have to Litigate Damages In Commercial Lease Litigation.

News:

Adam Slater moderates September 6, 2007 Seminar on "Trying Your Case the Right Way"

Judge Blocks Discovery of Internet Communications by Plaintiff.

(page 1 ) (page 2 )

Suit Faults Surgeon's Delegation of Emergency Procedure to Generalist.

New Jersey Clinic Is Closed, a Month After a Woman Who Had an Abortion There Fell Ill.

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center Settles Lawsuit Over Surgery.

Suit Settled in Failure to Report Sex Abuse.

Examples of Mr. Slater's Verdicts/Settlements:

Confidential Lasik surgery malpractice settlement.  This was a case in which a patient suffered complications after Lasik surgery, which were not properly treated.  The patient suffered permanent corneal damage as a result.

Confidential Lasik surgery malpractice settlement.   This was a case in which a Lasik surgeon operated on a patient whose corneas were irregularly shaped and thin, thus contraindicating the procedure.  The surgeon operated on the patient, and also failed to obtain the patient's informed consent by failing to advise the patient that he was at higher than average risk due to the shape and thickness of his cornea.  The case settled for a confidential amount prior to trial.  

Confidential burn injury settlement.  This was a case in which a woman suffered second degree burns as a result of a malfunction with a swimming pool heater.   This product liability case was settled for an undisclosed amount. 

$15.3 million verdict against insurance company.  This was a case in which an insurance carrier declined to pay multiple settlements against a single eye surgeon. Following a two week trial, the trial judge ruled that the insurance carrier, Princeton Insurance Company, had to pay the settlements.  The verdict was later reversed on appeal and remanded for further proceedings. 

$14.7 million personal injury settlement. In this case the plaintiff suffered Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, as well as peroneal nerve dysfunction, as a result of a car running over his foot.

Click here to read the press release. 

$9.7 million verdict for medical malpractice.  This was a case on behalf of a man who suffered a severe pelvic injury while donating bone marrow. The jury awarded this amount after a one-week trial against the two hematologist-oncologists who performed the operation. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge to $1.4 million, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience. The case then settled for an undisclosed amount.

$3.5 million verdict for medical malpractice.  This was a case on behalf of a nurse who was not advised by the hospital that employed her that she had been infected with the Hepatitis C virus while treating a patient, resulting in delayed treatment. The jury awarded this amount against the hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital. The verdict was later reduced by the trial judge, based on the judge’s finding that the jury award was so high that it shocked the judicial conscience.  The verdict was then vacated on appeal. 

$3.85 million settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case where a 9 year old girl was given the wrong medication while a patient at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.  The medication caused the child to go into cardiac arrest, kidney failure and to develop sepsis.  The hospital admitted during the case that it had committed medical/hospital malpractice, and the case settled before trial for the sum of $3.85 million.  Click here to read the article on this hospital malpractice settlement.

$3.25 million settlement in commercial lease dispute. This is a confidential settlement, therefore the details cannot be disclosed.

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$3.1 million settlement with City of Newark for dangerous condition of roadway.   This was a case in which a woman's car veered off a Newark roadway due to its dangerous condition, resulting in the woman's tragic drowning death; this occurred four months after another fatal accident at the same location.  This case was brought under New Jersey's restrictive Tort Claims Act. 

$3.18 million settlement for Passaic River car drowning.  This was a case in in which a car veered off a dangerous curve on Raymond Boulevard in Newark, New Jersey, and plunged into the Passaic River.  The occupants drowned when the car sunk in the river.   The settlement was paid by the City of Newark on behalf of the estate of one of the women who drowned in the car.    

$2 Million Verdict in Auto/Pedestrian Case Against Hudson County, New Jersey.  This was a case in which a woman was struck while walking across a Hudson County street, by a transportation van owned by Hudson County, New Jersey.  The woman suffered multiple serious injuries, including her neck, back, and pudendal nerve.  During negotiations prior to trial the insurance company for Hudson County offered $850,000 to settle the case, and that offer was rejected.  The case then went to trial and resulted in a $2 million jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff.

$1.9 Million Settlement for Obstetrical Malpractice.    This case arose from the performance of a pregnancy termination.  During the procedure the woman's uterus was ruptured and she suffered internal bleeding, shock, and other serious complications.  

$1.7 million verdict in truck/car accident.    This was a case in which a truck struck a car while making an unsafe lane change.  When the car came to a stop, the occupants got out and were struck by another car, killing one and severely injuring the other.

$1.7 million verdict in car/pedestrian accident.  This was a case in which a man was struck by a car while crossing the street, not at the crosswalk.  

$1.6 million verdict for train derailment. This was a case in which a man was a passenger on a New Jersey Transit train that derailed. The man suffered the aggravation of a preexisting neck condition, and psychiatric injuries.

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$1.5 million arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman underwent Lasik surgery to correct her vision. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues, and remanded for further proceedings. 

$1.45 million Lasik surgery malpractice settlement.    This was a case in which negligent Lasik surgery, performed with a defective Lasik machine, severely damaged a woman's cornea. 

$1.4 million settlement of a truck accident case.   This case involved an accident in which a waste hauling truck struck the plaintiff's vehicle as they approached a tollbooth on the New Jersey Turnpike.   The plaintiff suffered an aggravation of pre-existing cervical herniated discs and required surgery. 

$1.375 million settlement for negligent security and supervision.   In this case a man smuggled heroin into a penal treatment center, and overdosed.  He was not discovered promptly and as a result of the delay in treatment, suffered non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, hypoxia, and severe neurologic injuries.

$1.3 million settlement for legal malpractice.  This is a confidential settlement, and therefore the details cannot be disclosed.  

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$1.2 Million Settlement for Cataract Surgery Malpractice.   This was a case in which a woman suffered severe damage to her eye due to negligently performed cataract surgery.  As a result, the patient underwent surgical attempts to repair the damage, but ultimately lost the sight in the damaged eye.   The settlement included the eye surgeon's entire insurance policy, and contribution by the anesthesia team.

Click here to read the press release. 

$1.1 million verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case on behalf of a woman who underwent extensive surgery for ovarian cancer that had spread throughout her pelvis and abdomen, and had a laparotomy pad left in her abdomen at the end of the operation.  The woman suffered infection, developed an enterocutaneous fistula, and died four months later, as a result. 

$1.05 million arbitration award for Ophthalmological malpractice. This was a case in which a woman was not properly instructed regarding the signs of impending retinal detachment, following Lasik surgery. The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.  On remand, the case was settled for a confidential amount at the time of trial.

$1 million arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were improperly treated.  The case settled, with the amount determined at a contested arbitration proceeding.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.  On remand, the case settled prior to trial for $821,000.

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$1 million arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice.   This case involved Lasik surgery performed on a patient who had a condition known as forme fruste keratoconus, which should have excluded him as a candidate for the surgery.    As a result of the surgery, he suffered a condition in one eye known as ectasia, causing visual problems.   The award was vacated on appeal based on insurance coverage issues, and was settled on remand for $850,000.  Click here to read the full article.

$910,000 verdict for woman injured on waterslide. This was a case in which a woman injured her coccyx on a waterslide. The trial judge threw out the entire verdict, finding that the amount was so high it shocked the judicial conscience. On appeal, the Appellate Division reinstated $400,000 of the verdict.

$900,000 arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice. This was a case in which a man suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were not properly treated.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues.   On remand, the case settled prior to trial for $800,000.

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$800,000 settlement for medical malpractice.   This was a case in which a woman developed an infection (MRSA) following extensive intestinal surgery.  The surgeon negligently delayed the diagnosis of the infection and the woman died as a result. 

$775,000 arbitration award for Lasik surgery malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman suffered complications following Lasik surgery, and the complications were not properly treated.   The award was later vacated on appeal based on insurance law issues, and remanded for further proceedings. 

$750,000 settlement for medical malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman underwent a form of Lasik surgery to correct her vision, known as Intralase.  The surgeon, who used a defective instrument to operate, settled for $750,000.   The product manufacturer settled the product liability claims for a confidential amount.

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$750,000 settlement for medical malpractice.   This was a case in which a physician delayed the diagnosis of a woman's rare form of an aggressive breast cancer. 

$700,000 settlement for Lasik surgery malpractice. This was a case in which a man underwent Lasik surgery to correct his vision, but he was not a proper candidate for the surgery, and suffered damage to his eyes and vision.

$625,000 settlement for car accident/medical malpractice.  This was a case in which a man was severely injured in a car accident, then died several hours after arriving at the hospital.   The settlement amount was paid by the car insurance and on behalf of the trauma surgeon and hospital.

$660,000 verdict for apartment fire. This was a case in which a woman and two of her children were trapped in a second floor apartment in a burning building for nearly 20 minutes. 

$600,000 settlement for toxic exposure.   This was a case in which a man was exposed to solvent products at work and suffered damage to his brain. 

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$597,000 settlement for fall down accident/medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman tripped over a machine part left in a supermarket aisle by an employee performing maintenance, resulting in a severely broken foot. The supermarket and the woman’s treating orthopedist both contributed to the settlement.

$550,000 settlement for product defect.  This was a case in which a defective electrical component malfunctioned and caused a machine to malfunction, cause a man to be blinded in one eye. 

$550,000 settlement for medical malpractice.  This was a case on behalf of the estate of a man who fell due to negligent supervision by a radiology technician and suffered a broken pelvis and shoulder.  This lead to the need for pain medication which caused an adverse reaction and led to deterioration of the man's overall medical condition.  He ultimately died a year and a half later.

$525,000 settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a surgeon and nurses failed to remove a surgical sponge from a patient’s abdomen following surgery for bladder cancer. The woman died of cancer one year later.

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$500,000 settlement for medical malpractice.    500,000 settlement, during trial, for removal of cervix during subtotal hysterectomy intended to preserve cervix. 

$500,000 settlement for medical malpractice.  This was a case in which a woman was undergoing a cardiac catheterization, when the catheter ruptured the iliac artery, causing massive bleeding.  The patient was in a coma for several weeks and was left with slight numbness in her leg.    

$500,000 verdict for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman with severe diabetes injured her foot, and was not properly treated by infectious disease doctors and a podiatrist, resulting in the amputation of her leg below the knee. The woman died of unrelated causes one year later.

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$500,000 settlement for premises liability. This was a case in which a woman was assaulted in the lobby of her apartment building, suffering head injuries and psychiatric injuries. The settlement was paid by the owner of the apartment building for having deficient security.

$500,000 settlement for toxic exposure.  This was a case in which a nurse suffered a severe pulmonary reaction when she breathed the fumes of a floor stripping product in use at the hospital where she was employed.

$500,000 settlement for car accident.  This was a case in which a girl suffered injuries and scarring in a car accident.

$425,000 settlement for product liability. This is a confidential settlement therefore the details cannot be disclosed.

$400,000 settlement for medical malpractice. This was a case in which a woman with chest pains was discharged from an emergency room and died due to a heart attack sustained the next day.

$370,000 verdict in federal bankruptcy case. This was a case in which the general partner of a defunct real estate partnership could not account for funds that belonged to the partnership. The federal Judge found that the general partner was liable for defalcation, entered a nondischargeable judgment, and awarded $370,000 in damages, plus $160,000 in prejudgment interest.

$350,000 settlement for school assault.  This was a case in which a student was sexually assaulted by another student.   The Board of Education also agreed to institute administrative reforms to prevent future assaults. 

$300,000 settlement for Cataract surgery malpractice. This was a case in which an eye surgeon failed to act promptly to address a complication resulting from the removal of a cataract, resulting in blindness in one eye for the 84 year old patient.

Mr. Slater has obtained numerous other verdicts and settlements for his clients.

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Decisions:

• New Jersey Supreme Court

Liguori v. Elmann, et al., 191 N.J. 527 (2007) 

Howard v. UMDNJ, 172 N.J. 537 (2002)

• New Jersey Appellate Division

Baldassano v. High Point Insurance Company, 396 N.J. Super. 448 (App. Div. 2007)

New Jersey Eye Center, P.A. v. Princeton Ins. Co., 394 N.J.Super. 557 (App. Div. 2007)

Didio v. Monasterio, 2007 WL 2126650 (App. Div. 2007)

Gorcey v. Jersey Shore Medical Center, 2006 WL 533379 (App. Div. 2006)

DeLuca v. Demwood Flooring, 2006 WL 552428 (App. Div. 2006)

Liguori v. Hunter, M.D. et al., 2006 WL 2041435 (App. Div. 2006)

Brodsky v. Grinnell Haulers, 362 N.J.Super. 256 (App. Div. 2003)

Macedo v. Dello Russo, 359 N.J.Super. 78 (App. Div. 2003)

Riquelme v. Sun Tan Lake and Water Park, A-375-97 (App. Div. 1997), cert denied, 157 N.J. 578 (1998)

Feinman v. Life Investors Insurance Company, A-5281-96 (App. Div. 1998)

• New Jersey Trial Court (Law Division)

Thies v. Philip Morris, et al., MID-L-10563-98 (Law Div. 2000)

• New Jersey Federal Court

Delguercio v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 558 F.Supp. 2d 505 (D.N.J. 2008)

La v. Hayducka, 122 Fed.Appx. 557, 2004 WL 2797298 (D.N.J. 2004)

La v. Hayducka, 269 F.Supp.2d. 566, 2003 WL 21489723 (D.N.J. 2003)

Fed.Appx. 557, 2004 WL 2797298 (D.N.J. 2004)

In re Glatstian, 215 B.R. 495 (Bankr. D.N.J. 1997)

• Supreme Court of New York

Meth v. Gorfine, M.D., 824 N.Y.S.2d 240, 34 A.D.3d 267 (N.Y. A.D., 1st Dept. 2006)

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